How double time works
Double time is the simplest premium in payroll: multiply your regular hourly rate by 2, then by the qualifying hours. At $22.00/hour, each double-time hour pays $44.00; an 8-hour double-time shift is $352.00. The harder question is when you're owed it — because unlike time and a half, no federal law ever requires double time.
Where double time actually comes from
- California daily overtime. The best-known source: California generally requires 2x pay after 12 hours in a single workday, and after 8 hours on the seventh consecutive workday in a workweek. The official rules live at the California DLSE overtime FAQ.
- Union and employment contracts. Collective bargaining agreements often set 2x (or 2.5x) for holidays, Sundays, or long shifts. The contract language controls.
- Employer policy. Some companies voluntarily pay double time for major holidays or emergency callouts. Policy documents or offer letters are where to confirm it.
If none of those apply to you, hours past 40 in a week are owed time and a half, not double time — the time and a half calculator covers that, and the overtime calculator can combine 1.5x and 2x hours in one paycheck.
Double-time rates at common wages
| Hourly rate | Double-time rate | 8 hours at 2x |
|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $30.00 | $240.00 |
| $20.00 | $40.00 | $320.00 |
| $25.00 | $50.00 | $400.00 |
| $30.00 | $60.00 | $480.00 |
Double-time earnings are taxed as ordinary income. Note that the 2025–2028 federal overtime deduction covers only the premium on FLSA-required overtime — double time that exists purely because of state law or a contract generally isn't qualified, though the FLSA-required portion of those same hours can be.